Antti Raanta is moving from understudy to starring role, and he believes he's ready for the spotlight.

The 28-year-old goaltender spent the past four seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers after signing with the former as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He's now set to rise to the ranks of starting netminders after being acquired by the Arizona Coyotes earlier this offseason, and owes a debt of gratitude to those he previously backed up.

"I have been privileged to play behind Corey Crawford in Chicago and Henrik Lundqvist in New York, and working with great goalie coaches in Chicago and New York," Raanta said, per Dave Vest on the team's website. "It's been kind of like a step-by-step process for me. Last year, I kind of felt that my game was finding the right way and my confidence level was going better and better all the time. I felt like I was giving the team the chance to win every night."

Indeed, Raanta's play was a boon for the Rangers, and his numbers actually outshined "The King," albeit in fewer games.

Lundqvist, of course, remains one of the best in the game for a reason, and Raanta knows he has a ways to go before reaching that level.

"There's lots of games to play, but you have to find the right way to handle your emotions and your work ethic. Hopefully I've learned something from Henrik's work ethic and hopefully I can be, one day, as good as him."

Raanta is essentially penciled in as the Coyotes' No. 1 netminder next season, with Louis Domingue set to challenge him for starts.

"There's going to be other goalies and there's going to be a battle for the No. 1 spot (in Arizona), but I feel my game is going in the right direction … and I feel like I'm ready to take one more step and be playing more and get the No. 1 spot."

For his NHL career, Raanta has posted a record of 78-47-23 with eight shutouts and a save percentage of .917.

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